News Copy, New York

New York State Senate On Hold: Democrats Get Restraining Order Against Espada

Elizabeth Benjamin of The Daily Politics reported that an appellate court judge just granted Sen. Malcolm Smith's request for a temporary restraining order to block Sen. Pedro Espada Jr. from acting as temporary president of the Senate as it relates to "ascension."

It all does demand some sanity.

Pedro Espada, Jr., a Democrat, has been placed a heartbeat away from the Executive Chamber.

The photo of Mr. Espada holding the key to the kingdom in Albany like the Count of Monte Christo had some poetry to it.  So did Sunny the Clown (courtesy of The New York Post).  The reality is this man has the spector of an indictment hanging over his head and he is next in line to being Governor of New York State.

The Republicans designed this ascension and perhaps the GOP has gorged themselves on ambition, even if it is rightful reform.  Just the smell of them possibly selling out Republicans and Conservatives statewide who don't support gay marriage raises other rotting political corpses.

The anarchy has New Yorkers nervous.  People are confused.  The questions on the street range from being incredulous doubts about the Democrats to asking if Republican leaders can change control in mid-session.  Also, the fact that it happened so suddenly -- like a real coup -- has left an unsettling feel to the smile on Pedro Espada's face.

David Letterman Slammed For Sexually Joking About Sarah Palin's Daughter

David Letterman's mouth found his foot telling sexual jokes about Sarah Palin's daughter, reported ABC News.

Palin cancelled her appearance on Letterman:

"The Palins have no intention of providing a ratings boost for David Letterman by appearing on his show. Plus, it would be wise to keep Willow away from David Letterman," PalinPAC spokeswoman Meghan Stapleton said today

The crew at The View seemed to slam each other as much as they were slamming Letterman ... including finding a way to go after Sarah Palin, though they agreed that the children of celebrities and politicians should be off-limits.

Letterman apologized, defensively:  MSNBC

New York State Senate Democrats Lose In Court: 2010 Redistricting And Gay Marriage On Table

Gail Collins of The New York Times sounded plagued with an uncertain feeling about the Empire State:

"Instead of a quick resolution, I’m hoping for a bigger disaster in Albany, something so outrageously bad that the whole state will rise up the way Pennsylvania did. I want to see legislators raising their own pay in bathing suits while de-funding parks in the middle of the night during a sex scandal. If we want to make it better, we may have to be prepared to watch it get worse."

It will get worse, when New York defaults.

Meanwhile, the New York Daily News  reported Democrats losing in court -- for now.

"The new leaders said they couldn't conduct business because the Democrats locked away all the bills and other documents."

Republicans also warned that a judge ruling against them would constitute the judicial branch interfering with the legislative branch.

Daily Kos argued that the "oh-so-corrupt New York GOP" manipulated the State Senate coup with an endgame of hurting the Democrats with redistricting.

The Democrats have the Assembly with Sheldon Silver, the Executive Chamber with Governor Paterson and most of the Congressional Districts in New York -- so the whining over GOP control is a pathetic game right now.  Right now, they may finally have the keys to get into the chamber but there seems to be an apathy to actually initiate serious business.

The problem for Republicans is simple:  The chose two political players, Sen. Hiram Monserrate and Sen. Pedro Espada, Jr., who are Democrats and whose loyalty depends more on the dollars than any dignity.  Also, Monserrate is indicted and Espada could yet find himself indicted.

The Buffalo News reported that the supposed coalition of 30 Republicans and two rogue Democrats has sought to expand its base:

"The pressure to flip — and not flip—is on Sen. William Stachowski, a Lake View Democrat. Sources close to Espada said Stachowski, if he flips, has been offered the chairmanship of the Senate Finance Committee — a job he was promised, but not given, last year by Smith. "

In addition to chairmanships, many will bargain over redistricting though the current plum Republicans are teasing is to support gay marriage.

Amazingly, news reports detailed even Sen. Tom Duane apparently considering jumping ship to join the coalition if gay marriage was put on the table for serious discussion by the GOP.

UPDATE:  Azi Paybarah at The Politicker and Liz Benjamin at the Daily Politics both have the details.

Democrats Lock The New York State Senate Chamber: Governor Says He Won't "Blast Through The Doors"

The Marx Brothers have nothing on Albany, as New York State Governor David Paterson sounds a bit frustrated with his fellow Democrats holing themselves in the State Senate chamber like a scene from a bad movie.

The following comes courtesy of the Daily Politics blog.

This actually happened today.  The above clip is not a parody.

Democrats are afraid to hold a vote on the State Senate leadership.

Blogging Anonymous: The Thrill Is Gone But There Is Still Money To Be Made

I know how this feels.

"According to a 2008 survey by Technorati, which runs a search engine for blogs, only 7.4 million out of the 133 million blogs the company tracks had been updated in the past 120 days. That translates to 95 percent of blogs being essentially abandoned, left to lie fallow on the Web, where they become public remnants of a dream — or at least an ambition — unfulfilled."

The New York Times offered the above view of bloggers, "When The Thrill Is Gone" -- though I somehow suspect that they still don't get it.  Yeah ... it's like an island of lost toys, a junkyard of old cars and a garage sale of words across the global village.

Now look at the alternative reality; Print news in a virtual era.

Reporters are being laid off, furloughed and newspapers are folding or about to close at a record rate.

As someone who has sustained and walked away from a blog with a fairly reliable audience, never taking the dive to make it a business enterprise, I can say with confidence that it is only getting better for new media journalists.

Online journalists are here to stay, online opinion makers aren't going away and there is money to be made here.  There's certainly as much money to be made for an industrious journalist as any reporter working for a newspaper, at least as much as anyone toiling for a local newspaper.

The world changed.  It's still changing.  Stay tuned, folks.  It's going to be fun and new, and a worthwhile change from the status quo.  For example, New York State and particularly New York City still have a reliable staple of media company generated news blogs and private news blogs.  Westchester features the Yonkers Tribune, a self-sustaining enterprise that serves the state's second largest city as a potent news provider.

I have used News Copy as an open venue for many reform initiatives, admittedly at times both for clients and standard news coverage.  I admittedly tiptoe between the lines, though I have never pretended to be a newspaper either.  This is a .org, not a .com, and has never called itself a news outlet.  As a journalist who probably has covered as much state and local news as anyone in New York State, I can certainly cover the news -- but I never disguise my opinion.  I have my own press credentials, earned over time, but I never abuse them.

The hypocrisy that exists with some publishers, editors and reporters who push a political agenda -- often within the national mainstream media -- leaves an open question why audiences for these supposedly un-biased news outlets continue to drop.

People get it.

The mainstream media often disguises its opinion.  It's ripe for criticism.  Many pretend to be an objective and non-political source of news.  People aren't fooled anymore.  Like a good editorial page editor, like a good publisher of open commentary, like a good honest civically engaged citizen, I'm as much like Peter Zenger as any present-day publisher.

Ben Franklin would have been a blogger.

Stephen Colbert Does His Part For Troop Morale: Operation Iraqi Stephen "Going Commando"

Even the White House had some non-partisan fun for a change, as President Obama ordered Gen. Ray Odierno, the commander of the American troops in Iraq to shave Stephen Colbert's head.

The New York Times caught Colbert's act on the road, as did the rest of the mainstream media, and gave the comedian his due.

Colbert has been an open and active supporter of our troops, raising money through donorschoose.org.

Colbert's charity raises money for school supplies for children of soldiers, through his WristStrong bracelets for the Yellow Ribbon Fund, which helps injured veterans, and by donating to the U.S.O. proceeds from iTunes downloads of this week’s episodes.

Colbert will spend the week in Iraq, at least four episodes.

It harkens back to the days of Bob Hope, who had a second entertainment career just visiting the troops overseas for nearly six decades.

Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi Bargains With Conservatives For Third Term

It's curious how Nassau County's political machinations with its Conservative Party have much in common with Westchester County's own politically incestuous debacles.

But there's one big difference.

Tom Suozzi, a Democrat, has been more of a fiscal reformer than most Republicans on Long Island.  His track record as Nassau County Executive, though losing some of its initial cost-cutting luster, fares better than most Republicans on the pocketbook issues.  And he is pro-life, or at least has shown the political courage to go there.

So I am not sure I can entirely agree with George Marlin's painstaking assessment in the Long Island Business Review of how Nassau Conservative leaders manipulated the political process to twice get Suozzi -- just to protect jobs.

"When Democrat Tom Suozzi took over the reins of county government in 2002, Bogsted was the only Tom Gulotta appointee kept.  What some political wags perceived as a brash decision was actually a truly Machiavellian move.  By keeping the former high school wrestling coach as Nassau’s Commissioner of Consumer Affairs, Suozzi could manipulate Bogsted to his political advantage."

George Marlin should be fair.  When Democrat Tom Suozzi took over the reins of county government in 2002, it had been preceded by a fiscal collapse of generational proportions that had brought that county's GOP to its knees.  It took decades of Republicans perhaps not counting as well as they should to allow Suozzi to ascend.

Who is to say that there is anything wrong with a Democrat bargaining rightfully for the Conservative line on the issues, especially if he or she is a fiscal conservative and conservative on at least some of the social issues?  Maybe Bogsted actually liked Tom Suozzi's stand on many issues.  I sure do, as do many other Conservatives.

It's not like Republicans have always towed the line in terms of their own Republican platform in New York State, so Suozzi is the paradigm that justifies the necessity of healthy cross-endorsement.  He's the wake-up call.

Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano, a liberal Democrat with no regard for fiscal common sense, is a corrupt politician who bargained on false pretenses.  He's our worst nightmare.

On Being Malcolm Smith: Political Post Mortem Portends Worse Ahead

Fred Dicker did the political autopsy on shanghai'd State Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith.

If the Republicans needed any final proof that the Democrats were determined to grind them into political dust, they got it yesterday morning when, after two months' delay, they were finally provided with a list of the pork-barrel "member items" they would be receiving this year.

The "split" turned out to be hugely lopsided: $76.7 million in projects for the 32 Democrats and only $8.2 million for the 30 Republicans.

Money.  Power, or lack thereof, and enough time for the usual suspects in Albany to gather the knives against Malcolm Smith.

In the end, Governor David Paterson and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg seemed as clueless as Smith.  Indeed, the two (supposedly) most powerful men in New York neither had their rudders nor oars in the water yesterday.  The big winner, apparently, will be Long Island and probably State GOP Joe Mondello -- who can at least now boast as Nassau County chairman that his crew saved the day.

However, I go back to the French Revolution metaphor.  Mondello and re-annointed State Majority Leader Dean Skelos are now the focus of New York's fiscal woes.  They either solve the muncipal crisis that threatens to turn New York State into another California or this political success will be shortlived.

Finally, David Paterson's blind eye to political machinations borders on incompetence.  Assuredly, the other winner here is Andrew Cuomo.  As Attorney General, Cuomo will now launch a more intensified investigation of Pedro Espada, Jr. and simultaneously undermine Paterson's chances of re-election.

Cuomo is in a no-lose position.

Republicans may have changed the rules but can they stop the fiscal bleeding in time to actually win a statewide election?

UPDATE:  The Long Island Business Review's blog Polit Bureau quoted one Democratic operative who agrees with my ominous logic:

“Now he can blame Dean Skelos and the Republicans if something goes wrong,” our source said. “Before, everything came right back to him and the Democrats. Look, it’s been a terrible run for him, there’s no doubt about it, but if he’s able to sell that he’s on the right side of the issues, he can recover.”

Paterson won't recover.

After The Republican Revolution in New York: Hangover And Promises

Democrats are pissed.

The Village Voice called the GOP "Golisano's party" -- as if reducing taxes is such a bad thing for the Republicans?

It's unusual for an unelected person to be in the thick of a legislative overthrow, at least in putative democracies. But there was Tom Golisano, paycheck tycoon and three times an unsuccessful independent candidate for Governor, appearing with new senate president Espada and returning majority leader Dean Skelos at the post-coup press conference. Golisano lauded the senate rules changes quickly passed by the new regime, and invoked the reformist Brennan Center as their inspiration -- though the Center itself is not so sanguine: "Some of these items seem like real improvements," writes the Center's blogger Laura Seago, but "in the past, Senate Republicans have been known to claim to enact reforms while crafting the language of the changes in such a way as to preserve the status quo -- or make the situation worse."

'Tis true.

But Democrats have Shelly Silver running the New York State Assembly like a ritualistic chieftan, so spare us the self-righteous crap.

Republicans must take this gift outright and lower taxes.  They grabbed power.  They bought it.  They own it.  Now lower taxes and keep New York from becoming another California.

---

The other problem, as Liz Benjamin of the New York Daily News has covered so well over the past nine months, is that the new found Republican majority relies on two Democrats, Pedro Espada, Jr. and Hiram Monserrate  whose backgrounds are the stuff for a pulp fiction novel.

Espada, Unplugged:  Daily Politics

The New York Post detailed the "disloyalty" factor and criminal questions hanging over both men, including Monserrate being indicted for allegedly slashing his girlfriend in the face with a broken glass and Espada residing ... Mamaroneck? 

"Espada has a long history of being a renegade and displaying party disloyalty. Three workers at a firm he runs, the Soundview Health Care Network, pleaded guilty in 2005 to diverting $30,000 from programs for family care and AIDS treatment to his political campaign. He was not charged."

So "reform" came with compromises ... and some traitors are only good for the treason.

The Golisano Factor: Money and Taxes

Thomas Golisano has consistently done something most New Yorkers can't or won't do; Invest in democracy.

Yesterday's Republican coup to regain control of the State Senate couldn't have happened without Golisano's dollars backing up the deal.  He had contributed to tearing down Republican control of the State Senate last year when the GOP wouldn't rise to the challenge of changing its corrupt rules.  Impatient with the progress of reform and New York's debt-ridden condition, the Rochester-based businessman (who had since moved to Florida) simply backed the other side.

Don't doubt Golisano will knock down the Republicans again if they don't heed the mission of reform.

But where is the money for reform from others?  This is not to say there hasn't been donations for reform-minded movements and candidates.  But could New York's only hope being a billlionaire who now resides in Florida.  The problem with politics is that it comes across as dirty money.  Whine as many must about high taxes, the same people are unwilling to dirty themselves to do something about it.

Golisano's return from exile, ironically from Florida, was almost charitable in its reversal of fortune.  Due to Democrats' incompetence and a "Tea Party" mindset nationwide, it made it easier.  Next time many others have to step to the plate and start backing good-intentioned candidates with donations.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg expressed an uneasiness with yesterday's changes, unchartered waters as he put it, but that's a billionaire's complaint.  From one billionaire to another, Michael Bloomberg learned yesterday that he's not the only show in town.  There's a lesson here, one I personally hope as a political observer (and participant) isn't missed by the wealthy in New York State.  The movers and shakers cannot allow one man to control the system.

We defer to Bloomberg in New York City -- only because he has money to win.

We again defer to Golisano -- only because he has the money to make a difference.

Do we defer again to another rich person, whores relying on patrons/clients -- or does New York's collective wealth finally address its woes democratically with the long-ignored middle class.  The system failed in suburban Westchester last week, were we witnessed party rule ignored.  How many more times do the people have be sidestepped by the same elitist few?

Finally, the Republicans are now in control of a State budget threatening to default New York's municipal monster.  They are now left holding the bag.  Tag, you're it.  The new and old majority will either the Empire State's economic problems and intolerable taxation -- or fall hard on their own swords.

If the GOP remains like the old bosses and fails to fix the problems in Albany, yesterday's coup will be akin to a military dictatorship regaining control of an ailing political machine ... just as the people are roused to storm the castle.  It's sort of like the French Revolution and now their own heads have been neatly placed on the chopping blocks.

They might have been better off on the outside looking in. 

Republicans Turn Tables On Democrats: Political Coup Turns Into Rules Reform

GOP, 2 Dems flip power balance in NY senate:  Associated Press

Republicans retake state Senate, aided by renegade Democrats:  The Buffalo News

Union Party (Working Families Party-WFP) Condemns Republican Control:  New York Daily News

Republicans Take Control of NY State Senate:  Daily Kos

Two Dems defect in NY Senate, control flips to GOP:  Hot Air

Smith:  Democrats still the majority:  Legislative Gazette

Winner, losers in GOP coup:  Long Island Business Review

 

Republicans Gain Control Of New York State Senate: Democrats In Exile Cry Foul

Malcolm Smith doesn't know what hit him.  Majority in exile?

Liz Benjamin reported on the now former Majority Leader's lament.

“This was an illegal and unlawful attempt to gain control of the Senate and reverse the will of the people who voted for a Democratic Majority. Nothing has changed, Senator Malcolm A. Smith remains the duly elected Temporary President and Majority Leader. The real Senate Majority is anxious to get back to governing, and will take immediate steps to get us back to work."

http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2009/06/smith-im-still-leader-monserra.html#ixzz0HsYqf5aF&D

“This was an illegal and unlawful attempt to gain control of the Senate and reverse the will of the people who voted for a Democratic Majority. Nothing has changed, Senator Malcolm A. Smith remains the duly elected Temporary President and Majority Leader. The real Senate Majority is anxious to get back to governing, and will take immediate steps to get us back to work."

The Republicans also made a whole new set of rules.

It will be a fascinating court case.

Republican Coup In New York's State Senate: Democrats Hiram Monserrate and Pedro Espada Jr. Flip

Dean Skelos is now the State Senate Majority Leader, according to reports out of Albany:  Capitol Confidential

Liz Benjamin of the New York Daily News first had the story:  Amigo Unrest Sparks Senate War

An observer in the Senate chamber tells me Skelos was sitting in Smith's chair with a BIG smile on his face and Smith was nowhere to be seen. The chamber has now emptied out and Republicans are talking about electing themselves to committee chairmanships.

http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2009/06/amigo-unrest-sparks-senate-war.html#ixzz0HsW6ZDNY&D

An observer in the Senate chamber tells me Skelos was sitting in Smith's chair with a BIG smile on his face and Smith was nowhere to be seen. The chamber has now emptied out and Republicans are talking about electing themselves to committee chairmanships.

http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2009/06/amigo-unrest-sparks-senate-war.html#ixzz0HsW6ZDNY&D

"An observer in the Senate chamber tells me Skelos was sitting in Smith's chair with a BIG smile on his face and Smith was nowhere to be seen. The chamber has now emptied out and Republicans are talking about electing themselves to committee chairmanships."

An observer in the Senate chamber tells me Skelos was sitting in Smith's chair with a BIG smile on his face and Smith was nowhere to be seen. The chamber has now emptied out and Republicans are talking about electing themselves to committee chairmanships.

http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2009/06/amigo-unrest-sparks-senate-war.html#ixzz0HsW6ZDNY&D

But priceless were the reactions from former U.S. Senator Al D'Amato on Facebook as it all unraveled in the State Senate.

"Friends, this is anarchy at its best! I can't believe what I am watching!"

New York's forever dealmaker seemed as surprised as anyone else.

 

New York's 23rd Congressional Could Be National GOP's Next Waterloo

With President Obama appointing upstate Republican Congressman John McHugh as Secretary of the Army, the word out of New York is that State GOP rocket scientists are about to stage a repeat of the 20th Congressional District debacle.

... And the usual suspects under Joe Mondello managed to grasp defeat out of the jaws of victory with a conservative Republican, Jim Tedisco, failing to properly manage and promote a well-liked lawmaker who shouldn't have lost that special election.

But they did lose, and open speculation is that they will lose again, as they plan to endorse Assemblywoman Deirdre Scozzafava, as reported by the Syracuse Post-Standard.  Republicans and Conservatives expressing interest include Will Barclay, R-Pulaski, and long-term Conservative Party leader Jim Kelly.

North Country state Sen. Darrel Aubertine has been brought up as the Democrat likely to pursue the seat.

Brooklyn-based Kelly, who has lived in Lake Placid for the past ten years and has been an active presence throughout upstate New York on campaigns for Republicans for over 20 years, would be an intriguing choice.  First, he is a former multi-agency law enforcement official with capable knowledge of intergovernmental affairs, particularly on the federal and city level.  Second, Kelly's probably been THE point-man on dozens of initiatives for the Conservatives and many reform Republicans  -- with true roots to the "real Republicans" and "good guys" around New York.

If Kelly officially floats his name for the 23rd Congressional seat, look for many Republicans to think twice about nominating a liberal or floating liberal policies during the special election (ostensibly what sunk Tedisco's bid).

Meanwhile, Democrats are craving beating Republicans again on "sure thing" GOP turf -- reported on NPR's Political Junkie blog.

MTA Tax Revolt Brewing: What If Counties Refuse To Hand Over The Dough?

Rockland County has already voted to secede from the MTA.  The unrest over the added MTA tax on businesses is rousing a debate throughout lower New York State.  Now the Mid-Hudson Valley counties of Dutchess, Orange and Putnam are fermenting a tax revolt.

What if these lawmakers just refuse to give New York State the money?

It will be a peaceful revolt, perhaps something that has been characterized as an escow account where the monies will be held in political limbo until any court challenges on the expensive bureaucratic add-on are exhausted.

As the Daily News reported last month, there had been resistance from Long Island and Hudson Valley lawmakers -- including 16 Democrats -- to bailing out the MTA with additonal taxes.

Assemblymembers Gregory R. Ball (R, C, I - Patterson) and Marcus Molinaro (R, C, I - Tivoli-on-Hudson) will be holding a summit on the MTA payroll tax with local elected officials and business, non-profit, and community leaders from Dutchess, Orange, Westchester, Putnam and Rockland counties this morning in Poughkeepsie to discuss the formation of a "taxpayer resistance" through an innovative escrow account method for businesses and non-profits to defeat the payroll tax.

Can the idea fly?

The MTA bailout in Dutchess County alone would sap $17,500,000 from taxpayers, reported The Pougkeepsie Journal, with businesses facing over $11 million in taxes.

The Newburgh City Council voted to formally oppose the tax, reported The Times Herald-Record.

Nassau Republicans have slammed the payroll tax, though Long Island lawmakers can't just vote to reject any part in the MTA like Rockland County did.

The Journal News detailed how suburban commuters will be hit with increase in fares too, effective June 17, so a train "Tea Party" is not implausible.

This is like a political explosion with a delayed fuse. 

Newsweek’s Evan Thomas: Obama Is ‘Sort of God’

"I mean in a way Obama’s standing above the country, above – above the world,

he’s sort of God."

Evan Thomas, Newsweek

Hardball's Chris Matthews continued the media's infatuation with Barack Obama by allowing Newsweek's Evan Thomas to declare, "He's sort of God."

Newsbusters caught Thomas reacting to a preceding monologue in which Matthews praised Obama’s speech in Cairo:

"I think the President's speech yesterday was the reason we Americans elected him. It was grand. It was positive. Hopeful...But what I liked about the President's speech in Cairo was that it showed a complete humility...The question now is whether the President we elected and spoke for us so grandly yesterday can carry out the great vision he gave us and to the world."

Powerline, who acknowledged the same "crush" by journalists. covered a parody by National Review of another Newsweek cover fawning over Obama.

Livestock Deemed Threat By United Nations: Proposed Tax On Cow Emissions

The New York Times and the United Nations have raised the emissions threat.  "Greening the Herds: A New Diet to Cap Gas"  The new enemy?  Cows.

"Sweetening cow breath is a matter of some urgency, climate scientists say. Cows have digestive bacteria in their stomachs that cause them to belch methane, the second-most-significant heat-trapping emission associated with global warming after carbon dioxide. Although it is far less common in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide, it has 20 times the heat-trapping ability."

Some lawmakers have even considered a tax on livestock emissions.

And some lawmakers, like Congressman Sensenbrenner, R-Wisc, wish that someone would just stop the insanity.

“I don’t know if we’re supposed to develop the technology to strap a catalytic converter on the back of a cow,” Sensenbrenner quipped.

What's next?  Horses?  Humans?

Rising Interest on Nations’ Debts May Sap World Growth: New York Times

The New York Times finally starting using a calculator.

Of course any nation's debt will sap economic growth.

All of a sudden, journalists discover capitalism?

About That Weapons Grade Plutonium You're Looking For: Here's The List

The United States Government accidently released detailed information about hundreds of the nation’s civilian nuclear sites and programs, including maps showing the precise locations of stockpiles of fuel for nuclear weapons.

Why can't some bureaucrats find a new hobby?

By the way, our tax dollars actually paid the salaries of those pencil sharpeners who compiled and published this list of hot spots.

Reagan's City On The Hill Left Behind By Obama's City On The Sand Speech

Obama's "City On The Sand" speech in Cairo is the parallel universe of the late Ronald Reagan's "Shining city on the hill" metaphor.

Obama has forgotten that he is President of the United States.  Maybe he wants to move to Europe after he is defeated in 2012.

Now that Barack Obama has declared "peace in our time" and done his imitation of Neville Chamberlain, it's time to remind the White House that there still is a cross-section of the Arab world not cooperating with the war on terrorism.  They weren't cooperating with President George W. Bush either but at least the last occupant of the White House knew an enemy when he saw one.

This is appeasement we witnessed by President Obama.

Not all Muslims are bad Muslims, obviously. To be fair, there are Islamic-Americans who have chosen to live in the United States -- and who pledge their loyalty to our flag -- but one wonders if Barack Obama had forgotten where he was sitting when he gave this speech.  Also, there are plenty of Arabs with us -- perhaps even in Cairo -- but the genesis of violent Islamic fundamentalism fed out of Cairo's academic and socialist cauldron.

"I have come here to seek a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world; one based upon mutual interest and mutual respect; and one based upon the truth that America and Islam are not exclusive, and need not be in competition. Instead, they overlap, and share common principles – principles of justice and progress; tolerance and the dignity of all human beings."

Meant well but entirely unrealistic given the geo-political threats staring him down at the moment.

Josh Greenman of the New York Daily News acknowledged that Obama's speeches are a mile long and an inch thick:

"The fast-growing genre of Obama healing speeches are masterpieces of analysis. They are also ultimately unimaginative in their policy prescriptions. They say so much that, in at least one sense, they say little: They leave one without what some annoyingly call a "takeaway," beyond the need for further conversation. The listener winds up thinking he understands the world better - but is uncertain how to convert that enlightenment into progress."

We had eight years of W's fast good syntax.  Now we're drunk on the verbose.

New York State Governor David Paterson Authorized Criminal Deal For Westchester County Executive?

Money, jobs and contracts in exchange for the Conservative line?

Governor David Paterson can deny that a State job awaits Westchester County Conservative chair Gail Burns.  The Governor of New York can also deny that he authorized a conversation between Executive Chamber staffer Larry Schwartz and Nick Spano to deliver the Conservative Party line to three-time incumbent County Executive Andrew Spano.

The backdrop to this conspiracy theory is a repeated pattern of other Paterson staffers acting without his authorization, so it is not far-fetched that Larry Schwartz acted in behalf of the Governor of New York State.

So who is the Governor of New York State, Nick Spano?

Larry Schwartz?

Andy Spano?

Republicans and Conservatives and Democrats in Westchester County have only begun to learn of Spano's endorsement, so the pushback could take a few days. Questions are being raised whether some Republicans and Democrats in New York's most affluent suburb are willing to expose the scandal.

Time will tell.

Republican County Executive challenger Rob Astorino condemned the endorsement of the liberal Democrat.

"Andy Spano's spending policies are antithetical to those who care about responsible fiscal policy.  Mr. Spano raised property taxes almost 60% in the last seven years alone, and he doubled county spending during his 12-year tenure.  His budget is larger than the budgets of 87 nations."

Conservative leaders in attendance during the endorsement debacle characterized it as "a betrayal" and called for the resignation of Gail Burns.

Planned steps include not carrying Spano's petition, advising Conservatives not to sign his petition -- and the circulation of a write-in petition for Rob Astorino.  A write-in ballot or "opportunity-to-ballot" petition would require approximately 600 signatures countywide, though some estimates range as high as 1,200.

Conservatives and supporters of Rob Astorino were optimistic that the Republican could secure the third line -- with almost every local chair pledging to keep Spano petitions from being circulated ...

... except Yonkers.

Hezi Aris of the Yonkers Tribune had some observations on New York's second largest city, entitled "Emasculating Local Democracy" -- and I concur for the most part.

UPDATE:  Sources tell me that Nick Spano will pay people to collect signatures for Andy Spano, caused by what appears to be a dramatic amount of solidarity in Yonkers not to carry the County Executive's petitions (with the integrity of the mayor and some Conservative leaders at stake here).

Close attention should be paid to what Hezi says about "the kingpins" -- who apparently know nothing about the corruption.

"The biggest of them all is Nick Spano, former New York State Senator who presently operates throughout Westchester County within our borders and without, in Albany, NY, and Washington, DC. By his side, growing his own fiefdom of power, is the self proclaimed apolitical Phil Amicone, Mayor of the City of Yonkers. Together, Nick Spano and Phil Amicone, with the enabling acquiesence of former Mayor Angelo Martinelli, and legal eagle Al DelBello preside over a process devoid of public input."

Far-fetched?

I'm personally not sure anymore, except I suspect a few names are missing and a few others may not be part of this subversion of the democratic process in Westchester.

UPDATE: Still left to speculation is which donors to Republicans and Democrats have influenced this process, including some developers and attorneys relying on State patronage and County approval for projects (ironically, the donors and development consortiums might turn out to have more to do with this deal than the politicians).

What I do know is that it has been subverted, controlled and manipulated to a criminal extent.

Now all Governor Paterson has to do is disavow any part in the corruption, fire Larry Schwartz for acting unethically in his behalf and end Nick Spano's career as a lobbyist.

UPDATE:  To borrow a question posed by Hezi Aris of the Yonkers Tribune, how long before Mayor Amicone fires Gail Burns?

Shameless hint:  It will happen right after the last remaining candidates are endorsed by the Conservative Governing Board.

New York's Political Bosses Disenfranchise Westchester: Liberal County Executive Handed Conservative Line

Courtesy of Govenor David Paterson, Spano Gets the Conservative Line, as New York City's suburbs have replaced Tammany Hall politics with organized crime.

Albany is already in our pocketbooks.  Now they're stealing our votes. 

Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano demanded the Conservative line, like a mafia don.  Westchester County Conservative Chair Gail Burns reversed the decisions of her party, like a good mob soldier.

The "fix" was in, courtesy of Nick Spano, Incorporated, who will now be rewarded with jobs and New York State contracts as a lobbyist ... and much more, to many more nameless political operatives who feed off this ongoing criminal conspiracy).

Phil Reisman of The Journal explained how the crooked deal was apparently hatched by Paterson political henchman Larry Schwartz (who used to be Andy Spano's left-hand man) and former New York State Senator Nick Spano.

"According to the theory, Schwartz approached Nick Spano at a social event and asked him to use his considerable influence with county Conservative Party Chairwoman Gail Burns to give the party nomination to Andy Spano. Burns once worked for tricky Nicky and currently is an aide in the office of Yonkers Mayor Phil Amicone."

A variation of the story was first reported nearly three weeks ago by Yonkers Tribune editor Hezi Aris, who initially was not believed.  Fault must fall at the feet of Yonkers Mayor Phil Amicone and a handful of notable Republicans around Westchester County whose ineffectual and near-impotent approach to politics has allowed Nick Spano, Inc. to again grab control of elections.  New York's second largest city has again darkened its name by tragically coming across as the gang who can't shoot straight.

The victims will continue to be the taxpayers.

Conservatives were given proxies in good faith (much like a power-of-attorney) to vote for conservative candidates.  Instead, Gail Burns as Conservative "leader" cast them for a Democrat.  Andy Spano is the man responsible for turning Westchester into "the highest taxed county in America" over the past dozen years.  Dignifying such a subversion of the democratic process is shameful -- yet it happened -- and it happened right in our own political backyards. 

All but one local chair endorsed Republican Rob Astorino but Gail Burns ignored us.  Worse, she criminally carved a percentage of proxies from each local community to ostensibly steal this endorsement -- and that is something that might yet land all these usual suspects in court.

Pravda Declares American Capitalism Gone "With a Whimper": Film At Eleven

From Pravda ...

"The Russian owners of American companies and industries should look thoughtfully at this and the option of closing their facilities down and fleeing the land of the Red as fast as possible. In other words, divest while there is still value left."

I suppose Stanislav Mishin is trying to say ... They didn't bury us.  We buried ourselves.

King Michael Forgets The Free Press: A Disgrace

Azi asked Bloomberg a good question but King Michael doesn't have a sense of humor.

If Michael Bloomberg thinks Azi Paybarah is "a disgrace" for asking questions, then we're all a disgrace.

Robert George of the New York Post calls for disgraceful solidarity.

Someone has to remind the emperor that his boxer shorts are coming off.

When the emperor is a billionaire, a two-term mayor of New York City and a veteran of media/publishing -- it's kind of hard to feel sorry for the guy

He should borrow a page from former New York City Mayor Ed Koch ("How am I doing?").

Meanwhile, an Azi Fan Club has sprouted on Facebook ("Dis-Gracie Mansion") -- and we're all a disgrace.